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Port Canaveral Fishing Report

November 19, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Port Canaveral Fishing Report

This is a Port Canaveral Fishing Report, 11/19/16.

Two days of fishing this week, one of which was in a retention pond. The other, on Monday, was out of Port Canaveral.

Scott Radloff and I went. At the ramp Fred Cisneros told us there were Sargassum weeds with tripletail on them. We found some weeds pretty quick, but did not see any fish. We later realized we were not out far enough, but it would be hours before that realization occurred. We ended up not getting a shot at the ‘tails.

port canaveral fishing report

Searching the weeds.

What we did do was go off of the Cape. Fish were busting, one here, one there. At first I was tossing a DOA CAL jig. A couple decent seatrout and a couple of nice Spanish mackerel came aboard. I wanted the macs with an eye to smoked fish dip. So into the cooler they went.

A toothy fish relieved me of the jig. My other rod was rigged with a Deadly Combo. I’d never used it for Spanish, but it seemed like a good idea. Oh Yes, it certainly was. We caught mackerel and bluefish steadily until we had enough, then went back toward the weeds.

Fish were blowing up in the weeds. Perhaps foolishly I grabbed a six-weight and tossed a bouncer bucktail out there. WHAM.

port canaveral fishing report

The fish is trying to teach me a lesson.

The tunny were solid, over ten pounds. It took me 15 or 20 minutes to get that beast in. In the meantime Scott had hooked, boated and released one on a Sting Silver.

port canaveral fishing report

A fat tunny on fly!

By this time it was well into the afternoon. We were discussing whan we should leave when we spotted an incoming submarine. Immediately the motor got cranked and we headed back to the dock. Don’t want to deal with the security for one of those!

port canaveral fishing report

The fly was nothing special, but the fish certainly was!

All in all fishing was pretty darn good. If I hadn’t been so busy I would have called Aubrey.

The fish got smoked the next day, two batches, an all afternoon undertaking. They came out quite deliciously. I hope my Thanksgiving guests enjoy them!

Wednesday afternoon after finishing errands the chariot took me to a pond in Oviedo. A couple hours yielded seven bass, mostly small ones. The best is shown below.

port canaveral fishing report

A lovely little bass, perfect for an autumn afternoon.

—————————————————-
FOR SALE
Still trying to find a good home for my old EZ Loader Trailer- http://orlando.craigslist.org/bpo/5764303987.html
—————————————————-

And that is the Port Canaveral Fishing Report!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Small Craft Advisory Orlando Fishing Report

October 15, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Small Craft Advisory Orlando Fishing Report

Since Hurricane Matthew passed us we have been under a small craft advisory for an entire week, with constant 20 knot winds out of the east-northeast. So we have the Small Craft Advisory Orlando Fishing Report.

BLOG POST THIS WEEK-
Kayak Fly Fishing Mosquito Lagoon Redfish- The New Reality http://www.spottedtail.com/blog/kayak-fly-fishing-mosquito-lagoon-redfish-new-reality/

FOR SALE
Still trying to find a good home for my old EZ Loader Trailer- http://orlando.craigslist.org/bpo/5764303987.html

I certainly don’t want to drag this blog into the quagmire of election politics, but this makes an excellent Bumper Sticker of the Week:

orlando fishing report

===============================

I’m looking for a publisher for my latest book. Much of Monday was spent working on that. I am also making an attempt to join the 21st century social-media-wise. Yes, I am kicking and screaming. But Tuesday morning found me working on that. After being in the house since last Wednesday cabin fever was building.

Tuesday afternoon two retention ponds in Oviedo helped dispel the urge, helped scratch the itch. Eight largemouthed black bass were caught on DOA CAL bass worms and Culprit worms from those two ponds, along with a single missed strike. Not exactly fly fishing in the wilderness, but it was fishing, and fish (although not particularly large fish) participated. Life is good.

orlando fishing report

BASS on CAL

 

Orlando Fishing Report

BASS on Culprit

The storm knocked some trees down in my neighborhood. Wednesday morning I collected some of that newly available firewood. After that I visited a ditch that drains into the St. Johns River. In ten minutes those same plastic worms that worked so well the previous day fooled five bass to three pounds who were hiding in that ditch! A brief spurt of hot fishing, indeed!

Orlando Fishing Report

BASS with some old guy

Continuing on to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, I discovered that:
-the water is very high, although it’s been higher;
-all the boat ramps appear to be operational;
-the dike roads are all closed; and
-I must postpone my show and tell seminar because the dike roads are all closed.
There were some trees down but all in all it could have been much worse.

With the intent of netting some mullet for future bait use I took the Mitzi to Port Canaveral on Thursday, knowing we were still under a small craft advisory. One thing I was forced to notice right away is that the storm has deposited tar balls along the beaches and in the port. I unknowingly stepped on one and tracked tar all over the deck of the Mitzi before noticing it. A rag dipped into my fuel tank and used to scrub all of the offensive areas removed it.

Before I reached the end of the jetty waves were coming over the bow. The boat nosed back into the port, which we circumnavigated.

Other than canvas awnings, hurricane damage seemed minimal. I am reluctant to say the mullet run is over, but I don’t think I saw two dozen in the port. The net never came out of the bucket. Rodney Smith thinks we’ll get another wave of bait coming through.

Friday I went to see Rodney. He, I, and Mike Conneen visited the Turkey Creek Sanctuary in Melbourne. On the way home I stopped and cast a line into a couple of pieces of open water. It would be great to report I found killer fishing in some new spots, but I did not get a bite.

And that is the Small Craft Advisory Orlando fishing report!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Mullet Run Orlando Fishing Report 93016

October 1, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Mullet Run Orlando Fishing Report 93016

The mullets are pretty thick along the beaches right now, thus the mullet run Orlando Fishing Report.

Because they spend so much time in the sun, fishermen are at greater-than-normal risk for skin cancer. Visit this link for tips on avoiding this dangerous but preventable illness: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/pdf/skincancer_family.pdf

Here in central Florida, the beautyberries are ripe. While you can find tastier berries, beautyberries certainly are edible. It’s so nice of nature to leave these out where we can gather and enjoy them, at no charge other than a few moments of our time!

orlando fishing report

The aptly named beautyberry.

BLOG POSTS THIS WEEK
What A Fish Knows- A Review. http://www.spottedtail.com/blog/what-a-fish-knows-a-review/ A great book, of interest to anyone who cares about fish!

orlando fishing report

UPCOMING EVENTS
Mosquito Lagoon Show and Tell Fishing Seminar, October 15, http://www.spottedtail.com/mosquito-lagoon-show-and-tell-fishing-seminar/
Mosquito Lagoon On-the-Water Show and Tell Fishing Seminar, October 16, http://www.spottedtail.com/mosquito-lagoon-on-the-water-show-and-tell-fishing-seminar/

FOR SALE
EZ Loader Trailer- http://orlando.craigslist.org/bpo/5764303987.html
Wurlitzer Piano- http://orlando.craigslist.org/msg/5764347708.html

——————————
Sunday an email came in from Chris Myers. Paraphrased, it said he’d found a bunch of tarpon in the Mosquito Lagoon from 5-30 pounds, and they were eating. Did I want to fish on Monday?

I met him a 0545 and off we went. The fish were not where they had been. Still, he looked around and found a different bunch of tarpon. They were less than five pounds, and way less than 30. Still, they were tarpon. I missed a bunch and boated two on a small minnow pattern.

orlando fishing report

This is a small example of the greatest fish that swims.

When that stopped working we went looking for redfish. We found an area where there were quite a few, with enough tailing that you could see where they were. I would like to report that we got several, but we didn’t get any, on either fly or spin tackle. It was good to see them, though.

My bait freezer was as bare as old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, and something needed to be done about that, so Tuesday son Alex and I went to Port Canaveral. We caught a few mullet at the boat ramp, then pointed the bow of the Mitzi at Satellite Beach, hoping to find something scintillating along the way.

There were menhaden just north of the Cocoa Beach pier. Nothing other than a few pelicans was working them. We kept going.

We found a big pod of feeding Spanish mackerel before we got to Patrick AFB, and got six or eight on fly (in my case the same one I got the tarpon on the previous day). Then we continued looking. I wanted big tarpon.

We got to Satellite Beach without seeing anything else, so I turned the boat towards Spain and went out a couple of miles. There was nothing out there either.

We ended up back at the pogie pods north of the pier. Alex caught a small blacktip shark there.

orlando fishing report

File photo of Alex fighting a black tip shark.

We went north of the north jetty. Aha! That’s where all the mullet were hiding! Using mullet for bait we got several fish, including a small lemon shark, bluefish, jacks, and Spanish mackerel. I got some mullet for my freezer. So it was a modestly successful with outstanding weather.

Wednesday Scott Radloff joined me for another go at Port Canaveral. Not having seen much when running south the previous day, this time we headed north. There was a large pod of pogies in Canaveral Bight. We netted some, then used them for bait. We hooked several sharks of various sizes. We did not see or get bites from anything else. Not wanting sharks, we continued our quest.

North of Cape Canaveral the water turned a lovely emerald green color. There were fair numbers of mullet in the surf. We got some jacks and bluefish when we fished. We did not see any tarpon, or catch any other species of fish.

The sea breeze came up so we headed back down to the jetty and tried fishing among the commercial mullet netters. Man, they do some damage. Jacks, blues, Spanish macs, and sharks was what we got. So it was a modestly successful with outstanding weather.

Thursday the craziest thing happened. Someone called me, wanting me to take them fishing on Friday. Thank you, thank you, I thought no one loved me any more! Dear readers, we are open for business and this report works better when people go fishing. There are still fish out there, so let’s call John and make some plans, OK? 407 977 5207. Thank you for your consideration!

Friday Scott Bryant and his son Greg joined me for some Mosquito Lagoon spin fishing. Were the redfish where they were Monday? Of course not.

We looked in shallow areas (the Mitzi kept hitting bottom) and saw a fish here, a fish there. Greg got a small slot fish on a gold Johnson Minnow. A while later Scott got one a little larger on an identical bait. We had shots at several tailers, none of which converted.

orlando fishing report

Greg with a spoon-fed red.

One thing which is easily noticed this time of year- there are hardly any finger mullet in the lagoon. There aren’t enough on the beach to make one think that they all chose that route. Where are they???

All in all it was a slow day, with only a couple of fish for which we worked quite hard. So it was a modestly successful with outstanding weather.

And that is this week’s Mullet Run Orlando Fishing Report, courtesy of Spotted Tail.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Manatee Hatch Orlando Fishing Report

September 23, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Manatee Hatch Orlando Fishing Report

Thursday found me kayak fishing in Mosquito Lagoon, where there were way more visible manatees than visible redfish. So we have the manatee hatch Orlando fishing report.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Mosquito Lagoon Show and Tell Fishing Seminar, October 15
Mosquito Lagoon On-the-Water Show and Tell Fishing Seminar, October 16

FOR SALE
EZ Loader Trailer- http://orlando.craigslist.org/bpo/5795050795.html
Wurlitzer Piano- http://orlando.craigslist.org/msg/5764347708.html

CHECK IT OUT
Captains for Clean Water, http://captainsforcleanwater.org
Sign the Declaration, and maybe give a donation.

————————————-

One of my Aunt Huguette’s last wishes was that I spread her ashes at sea. Monday morning I wanted to discharge that responsibility. Friend Tammy Wilson joined me for a Port Canaveral trip in the Mitzi.

orlando fishing report

All that was left of the corporeal Huguette was in this biodegradable box.

The weather was outstanding. There were lots of mullet along the beaches, at least in the morning. We brought Huguette’s remains out off Cape Canaveral and gently released them, saying a short prayer as we did so. I had to wonder, were the molecules in the box some of the same ones that were in Huguette the last time I saw her, hugged her? It was a sobering moment.

orlando fishing report

Soaking the box so it would sink.

 

orlando fishing report

And off goes my aunt into the depths.

We went looking for fish. We found a few blasting the mullet, ladyfish (small ones) and crevalle jacks (likewise small). We fooled a few with jigs. There was some Sargassum weed near the beach, so hoping we’d find some weed lines farther out we went out there looking, going out three miles. Nary a weed, nor anything else, did we see.

Coming back along the beach we ran it for miles. The mullet had mostly disappeared, and we didn’t see much. Each of us spotted a single tarpon, widely separated in time and space. We spent more time running than fishing, and did not catch anything else.

Wednesday morning found me wading a flat next to Long Island, near the St. Lucie Inlet, with Marcia Foosaner and Dapper Dan. I chose a spin rod based on the reports I got from Marcia, which was to say dirty water and scarce fish. Blind casting with a fly rod gets old too quick for me these days if there are no bites. Fishing is frequently more enjoyable when some fish participate…

There were a few fish popping mullet. I hooked and lost what we thought was a big snook, followed by three solid strikes from crevalle, all smaller sized ones. Then I got a bite from something whose fight I did not recognize. I had to actually see the fish before recognizing it as a Belizean-sized bonefish. All my casting was done with a DOA CAL Shad, three inch version.

orlando fishing report

Bonefish in the Indian River Lagoon, some good news methinks.

A very enjoyable morning Marcia and Dan, thanks to both of you.

Thursday found the Ocean Kayak searching for Mosquito Lagoon redfish. On my leader was the same redfish worm that’s been on there for three weeks now. It still works!

The first cast, a ten footer to the first fish I saw, resulted in a take. Into the backing, you gotta love those! The largest red I’ve seen since returning from Alaska.

orlando fishing report

The same old fly has caught at least a dozen fish now.

As mentioned at the top, there were a lot more manatees than redfish. The manatees were so shallow I could touch some of them with my fishing rod.

orlando fishing report

MAN-A-TEES!

I managed to catch two more reds, with the last one very symmetrically coming on the last cast, about 100 yards from where the first one was caught. All three fish were caught on very short casts. The dirty water means they can’t see you either.

Got my wires crossed with Tom Van Horn on Friday and ended up doing a variety of chores.

And that is the Manatee Hatch Orlando Fishing Report, 92416.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Early June Orlando Fishing Report

June 4, 2016 by · 1 Comment

Early June Orlando Fishing Report

If there was any doubt summer has hit central Florida, this week dispelled it. The calendar claims summer won’t be here for a couple weeks, but reality says it’s here now. It’s blazing hot, and this is the early June Orlando Fishing Report.

Still trying to sell that EZ Loader- Details at this link- http://www.spottedtail.com/sale-rebuilt-aluminum-ez-loader-trailer/

Friend and neighbor Karl Dienst somehow came upon a small, cherry, 1950s aluminum boat, a Blue Star perhaps? He got this idea that he should paint it to look like Chuck Yeager’s WWII P-51 Mustang. He got the job done in time to launch the very spiffy-looking boat with his friend Paul Dachoff on, appropriately, Memorial Day. I’m sharing here a couple of the pictures they took.

orlando fishing report

Paul, Karl, and the Glamorous Glen

 

orlando fishing report

A toast!

I had gotten a report from a reliable source that the Banana River Lagoon was not dead, that the water had cleared somewhat, and the fish were biting. On Tuesday I went to check it out. In the cleanest place I found I could barely see my feet in knee-deep water. I saw a few small black drum and caught one on a black redfish worm, and got three small reds on the same fly, all sight fished in real shallow water. While that’s certainly better than “everything is dead”, it was not terribly encouraging.

Wednesday Tom Van Horn and I went out of Port Canaveral. We didn’t find any bait, or any fish other than little tunny. We got ten or so tunny on Sting Silvers, and a single Spanish mackerel that apparently believed in integration. Good for it! We talked to a couple of other guides at the boat ramp who had a similar day.

orlando fishing report

Tunny Tommy

Thursday I went kayaking on the Mosquito Lagoon. The weather was very hot and sunny, with a light breeze until the afternoon, when it started honkin out of the east. The few fish I saw were very spooky. I managed one redfish on a black bunny leech.

Friday George Allen and I went out of the Port on a tunny hunt. We found them about three miles off the beach and got several on Sting Silvers. I pulled out a seven weight fly pole and got one on a bouncer bucktail streamer.

orlando fishing report

I love to see this!

 

orlando fishing report

Tunny on fly- file photo

So fishing was not spectacular this week, and that is the early June Orlando fishing report from Spotted Tail.

Due to travel there’s a very high probability that I will take a bye week next week- don’t expect a report.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report

May 28, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Memorial Day Orlando Fishing Report

This weekend try to take a few moments to consider all those people who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our way of life. Because Monday is Memorial Day, we have the Memorial Day Orlando fishing report this week.

If you have a few extra moments in there, please say a prayer for both Steve Baker and TC Howard, both of whom are battling illness and could use a spiritual hand. Steve was a mentor to me when I first got to Florida and taught me a ton about fishing here. TC is the master rod builder, retired firefighter, and Viet Nam vet. Good men, both.

Still trying to sell that EZ Loader- Details at this link- http://www.spottedtail.com/sale-rebuilt-aluminum-ez-loader-trailer/

OK, Fishing!

On Monday long-time friend Tammy Wilson joined me out on the Atlantic. Our goal was to hook into a couple of those mongo jack crevalle with flies. Last week when all those fish were out there the wind was from the west. Monday it was from the northeast. Not only was the Mitzi at or slightly beyond its design capacity for the waves, most of the fish were gone. We saw two small groups of fish, got one lame shot that did not work, and got a good, solid, old-fashioned skunking. Ouch.

The wind was out of the east the remainder of the week, making the ocean an impossibility for the Mitzi.

Thursday Scott Radloff and I went kayak fishing on Mosquito Lagoon. The east wind was not our friend, but we managed four redfish between us, me with a fly and Scott with a jerkbait. I even selfied myself with one that got fooled with a black bunny leech. The water is still brown and disgusting looking.

orlando fishing report

Gotta love the selfie!

Scott does quite a bit of work in Sarasota. He asked me not to disclose the place we kayak fished on Friday. While the fishing was not red-hot, we did get some nice fish. I even managed to fool a snook on a redfish worm, and selfied myself again! Can’t say the water looked much better there, either.

orlando fishing report

Still selfie-ing!

Still have open days this month. Give me a call if you want to go fishing!

And that is the Memorial Day Orlando fishing report from Spotted Tail. Please enjoy the weekend safely!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

Jackzilla Port Canaveral Fishing Report

May 22, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Jackzilla Port Canaveral Fishing Report and Photo Essay

Four days fishing out of Port Canaveral this week led to some outstanding catches, particularly if you consider a 30 pound plus crevalle jack an outstanding catch. The fishing out there was fairly sizzling. So we have the Jackzilla Port Canaveral fishing report this week. Still trying to sell that EZ Loader- Details at this link- http://www.spottedtail.com/sale-rebuilt-aluminum-ez-loader-trailer/

orlando fishing report

For sale!

The Indian River Lagoon is not the only great Florida waterway suffering from gross mismanagement. See this link about Lake Okeechobee- https://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2016/05/15/sucking-in-the-algae-bloom-lake-okeechobees-s-308-slrirl/. We desperately need a new governor and an almost entirely new legislature. Not that I have strong feelings about it! Monday was not about the Port, though. Monday morning found two gentlemen from Jacksonville in the Mitzi, Mr, Jeff Weir and his friend Marinis. We were out on Mosquito Lagoon, looking for redfish. We found decent numbers of fish, although they were uncooperative enough that they only got one each. We had a good time!

port canaveral fishing report

Jeff with his only redfish of the day.

Tuesday Scott Radloff and I went out of the Port. It was snotty at first and I almost turned around. Jim Ross gave me a bunch of menhaden and invited us to follow him, which was really nice of him. We did. It took a while to get a bite, but when we did it was a double of mongo jacks. Quite a way to kick off the action. Jackzilla!

port canaveral fishing report

Scott’s hands were full for a while with this beast.

Soon there were jacks swimming all around us. One day several years ago Scott and I hooked 14 of the beasts, but we’re older (and maybe wiser) now, besides the been there done that aspect. So after he got his second one it was time to look for some other action.

port canaveral fishing report

He’s happy it’s no longer on his line!

The wind layed down, and the sun came out. The weather just continued improving all day.

port canaveral fishing report

Jackzilla!

We found some tarpon rolling. They were scattered and I didn’t think we’d hook one, but a fatty came up and ate my pogy. It proceeded to jump all over the Atlantic trying unsuccessfully to dislodge the hook. What it did succeed in doing was to saw through the #80 fluorocarbon leader. So it got away. And the rest of the fish disappeared. While we soaked baits hoping a stray was still around the biggest, baddest, meanest jackzilla of all bit my bait and proceeded to cause me some serious pain. No kidding, that fish kicked my alpha, you know what I mean?

port canaveral fishing report

This fish caused me some pain. Although it does hurt so nice…

Now I was really done with the jacks. We were still seeing them all around, but neither of us wanted anything else to do with them. I saw some activity and went to check. Breaking tunny! I love tunny! We fired jigs out. Bam! I was on. Still trying to recover from the jack, now I had the tunny. Tunny are awesome but compared to a crevalle pushing 40 pounds it was pretty easy. We got a couple more before we were done.

port canaveral fishing report

A phalanx of blacktips.

We saw another bunch of activity and went to check. It was a school of sharks, sharpnose and blacktips, up on the surface, on a ball of anchovies, with Spanish mackerel and tunny blasting through them to get at the anchovies. Neither of us wanted anything to do with the sharks as far as a fishing rod was concerned, but I wanted photos. I got the camera out and started firing, resulting in a couple good shots.

port canaveral fishing report

Sharks and ‘chovies!

So the day started slowly, and ended up being my best day out of the Port this year. Lots of big fish, hungry, and awesome weather. Yeah, it was good. Thursday found me back on the Atlantic, this time with Tom Finger in the Mitzi. Tom’s biggest crevalle to date was about eight pounds- I’m not sure he believed me when I told him there were 30 pounders out there. Again, it started slow and just kept getting better. His first fish was a small shark, which did nothing to prepare him for the second fish- a 30 pound crevalle. Jackzilla! He fought it hard, and in only 25 minutes or so had it boatside. I pulled it in and photographed him with it, and off it went.

port canaveral fishing report

Tom with a small shark, one of many.

The sharks were almost a nuisance. The tunny never showed up. We hooked several more jacks, and then found some tarpon. Tom jumped a smallish one, and then another fatty ate my bait. This fish, well over 100 pounds, jumped only once and proceeded to kick my alpha. Twice in two days! He got down on the bottom, and despite using every trick I know I could not lift him. After 20 minutes I broke him off.

port canaveral fishing report

Tom met jackzilla, too.

Tom got one more shark and we called it a (great) day. Friday Mike Conneen and son Alex joined me, hoping for some big fish, especially tarpon. Alex started off the festivities with a big tunny that smoked some line off the reel before succumbing rather easily, at least compared to some of the other fish we would hook.

port canaveral fishing report

Alex and Mr. Tunny.

Then Mike hooked and got butt kicked by a big shark that in 30 minutes we only got a couple glimpses of. Finally the fish, tired of toying with Mike, bit through the leader and made his getaway.

port canaveral fishing report

Mike got a hand from Alex so he could boat his fish.

Mike then hooked a massive crevalle. Jackzilla! When he finally got the fish released he said, “I do not want another jack today.” OK!

port canaveral fishing report

You can’t really blame him for not wanting another one. Jackzilla!

We found some breaking tunny. Alex got one on a jig. I love tunny but it was as a minnow compared to everything else we got. We went looking for tarpon. We saw a handful but nothing that was really targetable (is that a word?) But we did find another school of jacks. Alex cast a menhaden in front of them and they raced each other to get there first. Alex hooked and caught the winner. Unless you compared it to the one Mike had caught it was a giant.

port canaveral fishing report

What is this again? Jackzilla!

We spent the rest of our day searching without success for tarpon. We got in just before the sky cut loose with torrential rains and winds. Saturday Dr. Jacob Garrett of Fort Worth joined me on the Atlantic, hoping to meet some sharks, some big jacks, some tarpon. He fought the first creature he hooked for 30 minutes. It broke off without us ever seeing what it was, not even a flash of color.

port canaveral fishing report

Dr. Garrett was thrilled to catch this shark.

Without going into the sordid details, he got a small hammerhead, a large jack, hooked and lost two tarpon and got broken off a few times, just an outstanding day. Thank you for fishing with me, sir, and I hope to see you again!

port canaveral fishing report

Jacob was certainly not to be outdone by my other anglers.

Still have open days this month. Give me a call if you want to go fishing!

port canaveral fishing report

Dr. Garrett, hooked up again.

And that is the Jackzilla Port Canaveral fishing report from Spotted Tail. Life is great and I love my work! Life is short- Go Fishing! John Kumiski www.spottedtail.com http://www.spottedtail.com/blog www.johnkumiski.com www.rentafishingbuddy.com https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Orlando Fishing Report, Photo Essays, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Lone Ranger Orlando Fishing Report

May 13, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

Lone Ranger Orlando Fishing Report

Somewhat self-fishly, I fished alone every day this week. Thus the Lone Ranger Orlando Fishing report.
I fish alone, yeah, with nobody else.
You know when I fish alone, I prefer to be by myself!
My apologies to George Thorogood.

Fishing alone lets me try new techniques and places I probably wouldn’t try if someone else was with me. So this week was an opportunity for personal growth. Yeah, that’s it.

My old EZ Loader trailer has been rebuilt. It is now for sale. Details at this link- http://www.spottedtail.com/sale-rebuilt-aluminum-ez-loader-trailer/

Some fascinating reading about dinosaurs here-—

orlando fishing report

I would love to tie some flies with these feathers!

Who doesn’t love reading about dinosaurs? I would like to tie some flies with dinosaur feathers. Probably won’t happen…

Monday, went out in the Mitzi on the mightly Atlantic. I wanted two things- Spanish mackerel for my aunt and a neighbor, and tarpon for me. Got the macks, at least. There was a load of them out there. Yes, the Sting Silver from Haw River Tackle is probably the best mackerel lure on the planet.

I did see one tarpon roll- talk about the Lone Ranger! My booby prize was a mongo crevalle jack that crushed a DOA Bait Buster. I got to try my new fighting belt, it worked quite nicely. It was an awesome day that I enjoyed tremendously.

orlando fishing report

This fishie crushed a deep running Bait Buster.

Tuesday morning found the kayak on the Econlockhatchee. Of course I was expecting it to be as good as the last time I was there and of course it was not. Five hours, five small bass, a missed strike or two, and again, one redbelly that managed to impale itself on the bass bug. The river looked great, running low and clear. It was an awesome day that I enjoyed tremendously.

Wednesday found the kayak on the Mosquito Lagoon. It had been wet all of five minutes when my somewhat disbelieving eyes spotted a pod of eight or ten redfish, tailing. The cast, the bite, the 16 inch trout that spooked all the other fish.

A few minutes later a pair of tails appeared, but disappeared before a cast could happen. Splash! Crash! Something chasing a shrimp. The fly (a rootbeer colored Sparkle Crab) fell there and an 18 inch trout bit. So I’ve been out ten minutes and have already released two fish. Before lunch I would release four reds, all in the slot, all sight fished.

After lunch six or seven more would get released, with a couple at the top of the slot, excellent fishing. Plus there were missed strikes and blown shots. It was going on! I got to that wonderful point where you say, “I do not want to fish anymore.” And I passed up a bunch of shots paddling back to the launch. It was an awesome day that I enjoyed tremendously.

orlando fishing report

For the fly tyers, here’s a photo of the very simple Sparkle Crab.

Thursday, doing something I don’t often do. I went to Playalinda hoping to pull a fish or two out of the surf. This involves walking the beach, as far into the water as I’m comfortable going, and casting a pair of bucktail jigs (rigged tandem) into the waves.

The surf was high enough that conditions were marginal. So was the fishing. In a little over an hour I had jumped a single bluefish.

Since I had the kayak and a fly rod, I went to a different spot in the Mosquito Lagoon than the previous day. Of course I was expecting it to be as good as the last time I was there and of course it was not. There were fewer fish and they seemed more spooky. But eight or ten decent shots came my way, and two handsome, seven pound redfish were released, still on the same Sparkle Crab. It was an awesome day that I enjoyed tremendously.

Friday I went to my favorite spot on the St. Johns River. Before launching the kayak I knew it would be tough fishing- there was no fishy activity going on. The bullfrogs were ribbeting, the birds were chirping and scolding, the coots were being goofy as always- but no fish. I never thought I would get skunked there, but that’s exactly what happened. I was out of there before noon. I had the whole place to myself, and it was still an awesome day that I enjoyed tremendously.

orlando fishing report

Hard to believe you could get skunked in a place like this, but there you go.

So fishing was a mixed bag this week, and I learned a few new things. The weather was great all week. I am so lucky to be able to do what I do.

Still have open days this month. Give me a call if you want to go fishing!

And that is the Lone Ranger Orlando fishing report from Spotted Tail.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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May Day Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

April 29, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

May Day Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report

At one time in this country, May Day was quite an important holiday, and it still is in many parts of the world. Fishermen ought to celebrate May Day- great fishing traditionally kicks off this month, all over the country! I’m not sure of the reason we no longer celebrate it, but I am making this the May Day Mosquito Lagoon fishing report, in honor of May first, of course.

Last Sunday I took the Mund-sters fishing! Larry and Julie Mund, that is, and their grandson Ashton, who was celebrating a birthday. They were not big, green, or scary, actually pretty normal folks! We went to the Mosquito Lagoon and enjoyed what was pretty much a perfect day, weather-wise. And, some fish cooperated!

mosquito lagoon fishing report

Larry with his trout.

 

mosquito lagoon fishing report

Julie with her trout!

 

mosquito lagoon fishing report

And Ashton with a real purdy redfish.

They used a DOA Deadly Combo to catch a couple decent seatrout, and some cut mullet to get a couple nice redfish. Julie, a colleague back when I was a school teacher, sent me the following: “Our grilled red fish was delicious. We brushed it with olive oil, drizzled lemon and fresh garlic. Yum. Ashton says it was the best day he had ever spent.” I am glad he enjoyed it.

An east wind prevented an ocean scout on Monday, so I opted for River Breeze instead, hoping the rising water level would mean cleaner water up that way. I’m not sure that idea was correct, although I did see a half-dozen reds. After pooching a couple fly redfish shots I got one on a DOA Shrimp. I also got ladyfish, snapper, seatrout, and a hardhead cat, all on the same lure.

Tuesday Bob and Teri Duport of Western Mountains Fly Fishing in Maine were my guests. A visit to his website to see the size of the brook trout he gets in western Maine is worth any fly fisher’s time!

The guy can fish.

mosquito lagoon fishing report

Bob the Maine Guide with a nice redfish.

 

mosquito lagoon fishing report

The fish hit a black Matuka Bouncer.

We met at Parrish Park and were soon riding in the Mitzi on the Mosquito Lagoon. The winds and waters were calm and there were no clouds, great sight fishing conditions, even with the dirty water. We did not see a ton of fish, but those we did see were eating. There were plenty of shots, a half dozen eats, and three released redfish, not at all a bad day. And the Duports were so well behaved!

mosquito lagoon fishing report

Bob and Teri release another redfish.

Wednesday Mr. Larry Reynolds was my guest. We tried going out on the mighty Atlantic. It was mighty unfriendly to the Mitzi. I went down to the Cocoa Beach Pier, turned around, returned to the ramp, and put the boat back on the trailer. The sea was too rough.

Scuttlebutt is the run of dolphin out of the Port this year is the best in years. The parking lot is full of sizable trailers- the fish are out about 30 miles.

We went to Mosquito Lagoon. Larry caught and released ten fish, all slot reds but one, an exquisite seven pound trout, most of them by sight fishing. Fishing was good!

mosquito lagoon fishing report

Larry with one of several fish he got.

Thursday Tammy and I had our last Thursday fishing together for a while. Her day off switches to Monday next week. If it’s like daylight savings it will take a month for me to adjust.

We tried going out on the Atlantic too. HA! It was rougher than Wednesday. We turned right around, put the boat on the trailer, and drove to Mosquito Lagoon.

I had forgotten what a good angler she is, probably better than me. Damn, she’s a good caster. She got six shots, four eats, and released two reds at the boat, both taken on a Homer Rhodes Shrimp Fly. Nice work, baby!

mosquito lagoon fishing report

The Homer Rhodes Shrimp Fly- simple and effective.

And that is the May Day Mosquito Lagoon fishing report from the Spotted Tail.

I have a lot of open days coming up, so if you want to get in on this fishing, please contact me!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, port canaveral fishing report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

The Mudfish Orlando Fishing Report

April 16, 2016 by · Leave a Comment

The Mudfish Orlando Fishing Report

We fished all over central Florida this week, thus the Orlando Fishing Report.

One of the features of fly fishing in the midwest is the farm pond. One of the features of fly fishing here in Florida is the lowly retention pond, a mostly ignored resource. Lawn and street yuck drain into a hole that was dug in some neighborhood so the dirty water has a chance to clean up before moving into the local watershed. In spite of the yuck fish live in them. Fish are pretty adaptable creatures. Because not many folks fish them, the fish that live in these ponds tend to be unsophisticated and aggressive. I like my fish that way!

Sunday evening after dinner I went to a retention pond in Oviedo for maybe an hour’s casting. On a black matuka I got five strikes and unhooked and released four chunky bass, all of which were about a foot long.

Monday morning after visits to the bank and post office I went to a different retention pond and cast a new fly I needed to test. There was a strike on the second cast, and another shortly afterwards. I tried five flies in that pond and the new one was the only one that worked. Five chunky bass fell for it, decent if not exceptional for a couple hours of casting.

Monday evening after supper I tried still another pond. I did not see anything or get a bite. Click here to read more about fishing in retention ponds…

Tuesday morning found Scott Radloff and I searching the mighty Atlantic for denizens of the deep. We could not find any bait. But we did (after significant searching) find some breaking fish- Spanish mackerel, with an occasional bluefish mixed in. The fishies were thick enough that I broke out a six-weight and caught a bunch of fish, as well as lost several flies. White bucktail jigs and Sting Silvers were effective with the spin rod.

orlando fishing report

We ran into macks and blues intermittently all day, only seeing a few leaping spinner sharks for variety. The weather was outstanding, a gorgeous day.

With a fly trip coming up on Friday, I went scouting on the Mosquito Lagoon Wednesday. The water level is about the same, and its color is exactly the same. A dozen or so real shots came my way and I converted three of them, landing and releasing two slot redfish. One fell for an olive Bouncer minnow, the other two for a root beer sparkle crab. The weather was really nice and the day was extremely enjoyable.

mosquito lagoon fishing report

Thursday found me sitting in my kayak on the St. Johns River. The morning started foggy, spooky, mist enveloping me and limiting visibility to maybe 100 yards. Bullfrogs croaked an impromptu chorus. I wish I could say the fish were on fire, but that was not at all the case. The first fish was a small chain pickerel that released such a flood of memories I had to write about it (read the piece HERE).

orlando fishing report

I worked it hard, getting a dozen bass. The largest maybe hit 12 inches. Or I might be being generous. A couple bluegills fell for my fakes, too.

orlando fishing report

But from a size perspective the fish of the day came on an almost terrifyingly violent strike on the popping bug. The fish jumped four or five times, putting up quite a respectable battle.

It was a mudfish, two or three pounds. They’re not very pretty. But I certainly enjoyed our encounter.

orlando fishing report

Friday found my fly charter, Bob Wikan and his friend Mike (just Mike!) and I out on Mosquito Lagoon. Oi vey, what a day! Cloudy, cool, and windy, with dirty water, the perfect combination for sight fishing with a fly rod.

Sometimes I wonder why I scout. Of course the fish were not where I found them Wednesday. A search mission ensued, largely unsuccessful. By lunchtime we had seen a total of three fish and had not gotten a shot at any. It was looking pretty bleak.

The afternoon continued that trend, until I looked someplace I seldom look. Holy cow, there’s a tailer! Wow, there’s another one! Since I could not control the boat in the gale, we abandoned it and went at the problem on foot. Bob got one of the most extended shots at a tailer I’ve ever seen, following and casting to the same fish for 10 or 15 minutes. In spite of the effort he did not convert. The fish simply disappeared to end the drama.

Mike got a nice slot fish by blind casting the root beer sparkle crab, the only bite and fish we would get.

As I loaded the boat on the trailer the rain hit with a vengeance. It was so nice of it to wait until then! Thank you gentlemen, it was a blast fishing with you!

And that is this week’s Mudfish Orlando fishing report from the Spotted Tail.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short- Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com
http://www.spottedtail.com/blog
www.johnkumiski.com
www.rentafishingbuddy.com
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jkumiski

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2016. All rights are reserved.

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Filed Under: Fishing Reports, Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Report, Orlando Fishing Report, port canaveral fishing report, St. Johns River Fishing Report · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
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